The President Is Raging Against a Budget Crisis He Created — Obama invented the ‘sequester’ in the summer of 2011 to avoid facing up to America's spending problem. — A week from now, a dramatic new federal policy is set to go into effect that threatens U.S. national security, thousands of jobs and more.

The GOP's astonishingly bad message on sequester cuts … In a Wall Street Journal op-ed Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner describes the upcoming sequester as a policy “that threatens U.S. national security, thousands of jobs and more.” — Which leads to the question …

Shutdown isn't fight GOP wants — Republicans have decided that the sequester scheduled for March 1 — not a government-funding bill due at the end of March — is where they'll make their stand on spending cuts. — After the bruising political battles of the last Congress …

Ex-Sen. Domenici discloses son born in secrecy — Former New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici told the Journal on Tuesday he fathered a son outside of his marriage over 30 years ago, revealing a secret kept for decades. — Statements given to the Journal by Domenici and the son's mother …

‘Friends of Hamas’: My role in the birth of a rumor — A Daily News reporter explains how he inadvertently created the myth that Chuck Hagel spoke to a non-existent group. — Daily News reporter Dan Friedman recounts the origin of a rumor he unwittingly started about Chuck Hagel (pictured) …

Schumer: Chuck Hagel ‘almost had tears’ in meeting — New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that Chuck Hagel “almost had tears in his eyes” as he explained to the former Nebraska senator that the expression “Jewish lobby” is rooted in a negative depiction of Jews.

WHY KARL ROVE AND STUART STEVENS ARE PLAIN WRONG — RESIZE: — I am writing this newsletter in a very direct, no baloney, effort to get across how much trouble we Republicans are in and how real the internal party fight is going to be. — I strongly support RNC Chairman Reince Priebus' effort …

The Senate's Most Conservative Member: Ever Heard of Him? — James Risch, an Idaho Republican, edges out his more well-known colleagues in the upper chamber. — When people think about conservative “all stars” in the Senate (if people ever actually think about such a thing), a few names probably come to mind.

Woman claims she was fired for voting for Obama — DAYTON — A Kettering woman alleges in a lawsuit that she was fired for voting for President Obama, a charge the company denies. — Patricia Kunkle is seeking in excess of $25,000 from Dayton-based defense contractor Q-Mark …

Hagel Better Known, Viewed More Negatively — Rubio Overwhelmingly Popular among Tea Party Republicans — OVERVIEW — Unfavorable opinions of Chuck Hagel have increased over the past month as he has faced a bruising confirmation battle to become President Obama's secretary of defense.

Romney to Speak at CPAC — Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will appear at the Conservative Political Action Conference next month, according to two sources familiar with the event's itinerary. Romney's speech, which will be delivered at the Gaylord National hotel …

RNC raises $6.9M in January — The Republican National Committee raised $6.9 million in January and has $7.1 million cash on hand, it announced Wednesday afternoon. — The RNC, which did not take on debt at the end of the election cycle, is in much better financial shape …

Gas prices are on a mysterious climb — The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline has jumped 45 cents in the past 31 days, according to AAA, the fastest run-up since 2005. — Retail gasoline prices have climbed for 33 days in a row. A month ago, a gallon of regular gasoline cost $3.30 …

An Economist Who Made the Science Less Dismal — Armen Alchian never won a Nobel Prize in economics. But no less than Friedrich Hayek said he ‘deserved’ one. — In 1975, I attended a week-long conference in Connecticut at which the star attraction was Friedrich Hayek.

Jackson Jr. pleads guilty to misusing campaign funds — Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal charges that he used $750,000 worth of campaign funds for personal purchases. — Jackson appeared at a federal courthouse in Washington D.C. to make his plea.

The Devil Made Them Do It — Senate Democrats try to dodge responsibility for ObamaCare. — “Powerful Democrats” subjected a top Obama administration health-care official “to withering criticism” last week, notes Walter Russell Mead. When Gary Cohen, head of the Center for Consumer Information …

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